Bridging the Digital Divide – Policies and

ActionsProfessor Birgit JægerDep. of Society and GlobalisationRoskilde UniversityDenmark

Digital Divide Definition Those who have or don’t have access to

computers and internet

A Global Divide A Social Divide A Political Divide

Multi dimensional and complex

Access in EU - 2010 The Netherlands: 92 % of households Norway: 91 % Sweden: 90 % Denmark: 88 % EU: 74 % No access to internet: Denmark: 13 % EU: 30 %

ICT-skills and Age - 2007

Age Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total

16-29 2% 6% 44% 48% 100%

30-39 4% 15% 38% 44% 100%

40-49 8% 20% 41% 31% 100%

50-59 16% 25% 34% 25% 100%

60-69 40% 24% 21% 15% 100%

70 up 74% 14% 11% 1% 100%

The Digital Divide

How big is the digital divide? Definition: Never used the internet –

12 % of the Danish population Definition: Too low ICT skills to use

digital services – 41 % of the Danish population

What is the Problem?

A Democratic Problem: Inclusion in the Information Society Perspective: the single citizen

An Economic Problem: Harvest the investments in e-government Perspective: the public authorities

Motivation for Use of ICT

13,3% 50,2% 13,3%

2,4%

4,7%

4,7%

1,9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%A wish for concrete knowledge about functionality

A wish for knowledge about content on the net (e.g. Hobby)

Curiosity in General

A wish for continued personal development

It is a necessity in order to function in a modern society

Because of children and grand children

Was Encouraged

Other Reasons

A Teacher’s Evaluation

“… because the seniors get access to that part of the Danish language, which is called computer jargon, they become valid members of the society because now they can join the conversation.”

An Old Man

“It was a jungle for me before I started. I thought I could never find out before we started. Now I have gained an insight into a whole new world… I can talk with the grandchildren about it. I am not completely an idiot; I am more equal whit other people now where I have sniffed a little to it.”

Policies – Part 1

Left Wing government 1994-2001 Info-Society Year 2000

An Information Society build on Danish Values Avoid a digital divide ICT for all The public sector as a driver

Danish ICT-Policy - 1994Info-Society Year 2000:

”The strategy should be based on a Danish Model involving that market forces are not allowed to be left alone. We must make sure that a number of special values prevail, primary through a public sector effort.”

Actions to Prevent a Digital Divide

Mapping the problem Research and development program:

Elderly People’s use of ICT – 1999-2004 Six local experiments Four research projects

Involvement of civil society organizations DaneAge Association The Danish Association of Senior Citizens

Policies – Part 2

Right Wing government 2001 –2011 Digital Roads to Growth

Change the focus from the users (a nation of users) to a focus on the private sector (make money) and a more effective e-government

The responsibility is at the individual level E-government strategy 2011: One channel to the

public authorities in 2015

Actions – Part 2 DaneAge Association: Support and local

training The Danish Association of Senior Citizens:

Internet Cafés Develop e-government services for elderly Learn more about ICT network – 2010 An investigation of the motivation of seniors

to use ICT

Recommendations

The digital divide does not disappear and is not just for seniors

Look at it as a democratic problem Motivation: digital citizenship – not a favor to

the public authorities Acknowledge the civil society organizations Accept non-users and continue to offer non-

digital government Rethink the digital public services for all users

Thank you for your attention